Inside Lorum Village—
Chaos still spread through the streets.
Several villagers continued trying to burn Blue Scarf flags while Wolfbeasts rushed around stopping them.
"Stop!"
"Don't throw that!"
A Wolfbeast quickly snatched a torch away before another flag could catch fire.
Nearby—
Pyvi was helping calm frightened civilians.
"Everyone please settle down!"
"This won't solve anything!"
Feina meanwhile stood on top of a cart, shouting toward the crowd.
"Think carefully!"
"Sir Saito protected this village for years!"
"Don't let rumors destroy your minds!"
Even Tina was helping.
The little girl struggled while carrying several folded flags in her arms.
"Don't burn these!"
"These are Sir Saito's!"
A few other children followed her, gathering abandoned flags before angry villagers could reach them.
Despite everything—
Not everyone had abandoned faith yet.
Inside the mansion office—
Takashi stood firmly near the desk while Joshua calmly sat nearby like he already owned the place.
Takashi's eyes narrowed.
"…That is not your seat."
Joshua smiled casually.
"…He's already gone."
"…Maybe dead, I assume."
Takashi's fist tightened immediately.
"…Whatever plan you're trying to do…"
"…It won't work on me."
Joshua slowly reached into his coat.
"…Oh really?"
He placed a contract onto the desk.
"…How about this."
"I provide full protection for Lorum Village."
"And money."
"In cash."
He leaned slightly closer.
"…For you."
"…And all the villagers."
Takashi didn't even look at the contract.
Joshua continued calmly.
"You can call it cooperation."
"…Or survival."
Takashi suddenly grabbed the contract—
Then tore it in half.
Joshua's smile faded slightly.
Takashi stared directly into his eyes.
"…Bribe me all you want."
"You're never going to win me over."
He stepped forward.
"…I stand beside only one gangster."
A pause.
Then firmly—
"…And that is Saito."
Suddenly—
The sound of wheels echoed from outside the mansion.
Several carriages approached the front gate one after another.
Takashi narrowed his eyes.
"…What is this?"
Joshua calmly adjusted his coat.
"…Well."
"The time has come."
The carriages stopped directly in front of the mansion.
Outside—
Villagers slowly stopped what they were doing.
The shouting weakened.
Everyone watched silently.
Then—
The carriage doors opened.
Rick stepped out first.
Then Fein.
John.
Gein.
The other mayors had arrived.
Joshua walked outside the mansion with a satisfied smile.
"…Finally."
"You got my message."
Rick immediately answered coldly.
"…Already threw it away."
Joshua smirked faintly.
"…Now now."
"That's not how you speak to your new protector."
He placed a document onto a nearby fence post.
"…Please sign this."
The mayors remained silent.
Joshua's smile slowly faded.
"…If you don't…"
He snapped his fingers.
SNAP.
Immediately—
Ash Rat members emerged from nearby alleys and rooftops, surrounding the mayors.
The villagers gasped loudly.
"What?!"
"They were hiding here?!"
The atmosphere instantly became tense again.
Then—
One more carriage door opened.
A figure stepped out.
"…We will not sign it."
Several Wolfbeasts immediately froze.
"…Leader?!"
It was Takeru.
He slowly walked forward past the crowd.
His expression was calm—
But disappointed.
Takeru looked directly at the Wolfbeasts first.
"…I'm ashamed of you."
Silence spread through the square.
"…Not just you."
"…All of you."
The villagers lowered their heads slightly.
Even the Wolfbeasts looked uncertain.
Takeru continued walking slowly.
"Sir Saito helped us."
"He saved us countless times."
"And he never bragged about it."
His voice grew firmer.
"He only wanted to see us smile."
"…To let us live peacefully."
Feina smiled softly while listening.
"…Honey…"
Takeru looked around the entire crowd.
"And this…"
"…is how we repay him?"
No one answered.
Only silence.
"…One dirty rumor from this man…"
"And suddenly everyone forgets his kindness?"
His eyes sharpened.
"…We should all be ashamed of ourselves."
"…Even for doubting him a little."
The crowd stayed completely still now.
Some villagers slowly lowered the burned flags they were holding.
Then—
Takeru turned toward Joshua.
"…Now."
"I want you to gather your men and leave this place."
A pause.
"…No."
"Not just this village."
"…Leave Blue Scarf territory alone."
Joshua stared at him quietly for a moment.
Then smiled again.
"…Wow."
"…Such a nice speech from a Wolfbeast."
Joshua kept smiling.
Then—
Karina quietly walked beside him.
She glanced once toward Joshua.
Joshua gave a small nod.
BANG!
A gunshot suddenly echoed across the square.
Takeru's eyes widened.
Blood burst from his shoulder.
"…Ghh—!"
He collapsed onto one knee immediately.
"Takeru!"
Feina rushed toward him instantly.
The crowd screamed in panic.
Several Wolfbeasts growled aggressively while others froze in shock.
Takashi's eyes widened with fury.
"…You cruel bastard!"
He immediately ran toward Takeru.
Green auris flowed from his hands as he pressed against Takeru's wounded shoulder.
"Hold still!"
Takeru clenched his teeth in pain.
Joshua calmly lowered the smoking gun.
"…I actually wanted to target the mayors."
He sighed lightly.
"…But this works too."
Karina adjusted her glasses calmly beside him.
Joshua looked around the square again.
"…Now."
"Sign the paper."
"…Or I'll use brute force."
The Ash Rat members surrounding the area tightened their formation immediately.
Villagers backed away nervously.
The mayors looked toward the contract silently.
Then toward each other.
Rick's jaw tightened.
John looked furious.
Gein narrowed his eyes.
Fein stayed still, deep in thought.
The entire square held its breath while Takeru struggled to stay conscious beside Feina and Takashi's healing auris.
Fein slowly stepped forward first.
The entire square looked toward him.
"…Fein?"
Gein frowned immediately.
"What are you doing?"
Fein calmly picked up the pen beside the contract.
"…We have to."
"…Or someone else will get hurt."
Rick's eyes widened.
"But what about Saito—"
Fein suddenly interrupted him.
"…That kid?"
He scoffed lightly.
"…He's just a worthless idiot who says empty things."
The villagers froze hearing those words.
Takashi looked shocked.
"…Not you too, Fein…"
"You're betraying him too?"
Fein stayed silent for a moment.
Then quietly answered—
"…For my village."
He lowered the pen toward the contract.
Joshua smiled wider.
"…Smart decision."
But then—
Fein stopped moving.
His eyes slowly lifted toward Joshua.
"…You know…"
"That kid really is troublesome."
He smirked faintly.
"…Always following his feelings."
"…Too childish."
Several villagers lowered their heads sadly.
Then—
RRRIP!
Fein suddenly tore the contract straight in half.
The sound echoed across the silent square.
"…But…"
Fein looked directly into Joshua's eyes.
"…He's our leader."
"And we are not abandoning him."
The crowd froze.
Joshua's smile vanished instantly.
"…How dare you."
He immediately raised the gun toward Fein.
Several mayors moved at once.
"Fein!"
Rick and Gein rushed forward to shield him.
Takashi stepped in too despite still helping Takeru.
But Fein didn't move.
He stood there calmly.
Staring directly at Joshua.
Joshua's finger tightened on the trigger.
BANG!
BANG!
The gunshot echoed across the square—
But no blood appeared.
Instead—
CLANG!
The bullet split cleanly into two pieces midair.
The villagers gasped loudly.
Standing in front of Fein—
Saito slowly lowered his sword.
The sliced bullet halves fell beside his feet.
"…Sir Saito!"
The crowd erupted instantly.
"He's alive!"
"Sir Saito came back!"
Joshua's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he smiled.
"…So you're here, kid."
Saito stared directly at him.
"…Not just me."
Suddenly—
Bomb and Kaito leaped into the middle of the Ash Rat members.
Bomb cracked his fists loudly.
Kaito spun his knife once before pointing it forward.
The Ash Rat gang immediately backed away cautiously.
Joshua laughed.
"…This won't be enough."
He snapped his fingers.
SNAP.
Immediately—
More Ash Rat members emerged from alleys, rooftops, and shadows surrounding the village square.
Villagers panicked again.
Joshua smirked proudly.
"…I brought all my men for this."
Saito however only smiled.
"…You sure?"
Then—
BWOOOOOOO!
A loud trumpet echoed from outside the gates.
Gein's eyes widened instantly.
"…Wait."
"That's Hiraki's horn."
The village gates burst open.
Rows of Hiraki soldiers marched inside in formation.
Weapons ready.
"Aim positions!"
They immediately surrounded the Ash Rat members from behind.
One captain saluted Gein.
"Mayor Gein!"
"We came to assist!"
Gein looked genuinely shocked.
"…What?"
Before anyone could react further—
Flames suddenly appeared above the rooftops.
Everyone looked upward.
Bypass Invokers sat across the tops of surrounding buildings with flaming arrows aimed downward.
"We're here too!"
John stared upward in disbelief.
"…How…"
Saito smirked slightly.
"…I didn't convince them alone."
Then his eyes returned toward Joshua.
"You forgot something."
Joshua frowned.
"…What?"
Saito pointed around the square.
"…These villages trust each other too."
Joshua's expression shifted slightly for the first time.
"…What in the world happened here…"
He immediately looked toward Karina.
"I thought you handled this."
Karina bowed slightly.
"…My apologies."
Then—
Saito calmly spoke again.
"…Look up."
Joshua frowned and slowly raised his head.
At the top of the mansion—
A figure sat casually on the roof edge.
Claw gloves gleamed slightly under the sunlight.
"…Tch."
The man clicked his tongue.
"…I leave for one day…"
"…and this happens, Saito?"
Kuro looked down at the square with annoyance.
The villagers gasped once more.
"…Kuro?!"
The former ruler smirked faintly while staring directly at Joshua from above the mansion.